Multi-draw wire drawing machine

ABSTRACT

A multi-draw wire drawing machine includes upper and lower wire drawing stations that are adapted to selectively operate together for multi-drawing operations, and independently of one another for single-draw operations.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/193,946, filed Apr. 1, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to wire draw machines. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to wire draw machines adapted formultiple drawing steps in in-line wire drawing operations.

[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0005] In-line wire drawing machines typically draw unfinished wire,from a coil of unfinished wire, through a draw die to obtain wire of adesired size, and supply the finished wire to a using machine at astation located downstream of the wire drawing machine.

[0006] The reduction in wire size that is achievable in a single drawingoperation (i.e., through a single draw die) is subject to and limited bycertain physical constraints dependent on the characteristics of themachine and the wire being drawn such as the size, material, hardnessand hardenability characteristics of the wire, the size and durabilityof the draw die, and the power available in the machine to pull the wirethrough the die.

[0007] Two single-draw machines (with the first machine feeding thesecond machine, and the second machine feeding the using station), ormore typically, wire drawing machines having integral multiple drawingstations (i.e., including two or more draw dies) are used to obtain wiresize reduction greater than is available through a single-draw machine.Such multi-draw machines are arranged with both horizontally andvertically oriented capstan axes. However, such prior multi-drawingoperations, including prior multi-draw wire drawing machines presentseveral problems and disadvantages.

[0008] As with the use of cascaded single-draw machines, priormulti-draw wire drawing machines are typically arranged with two or moredraw stations horizontally aligned with one another, with one stationfeeding wire generally horizontally to the next station, and with eachstation substantially duplicating the other stations.

[0009] As a result, such conventional arrangements require the use ofsubstantial floor space corresponding directly to the number of drawstations. In other words, a two-draw machine will take up approximatelytwice the floor space of a comparable single-draw machine.

[0010] Thus, there is a need for an in-line multi-draw wire drawingmachine that requires less floor space that prior multi-draw wire drawmachines.

[0011] Prior multiple-draw machines are generally adapted forsimultaneous use of all of the draw stations in the machine. However,there are wire processing operations where, in certain instances, asingle draw machine is suitable, and where in other instances, amulti-draw wire drawing machine is desirable or needed. Priormultiple-draw machines are generally incapable of such operations. As aresult, the processing operation may purchase two machines for the twodifferent operational requirements. Consequently, providing for suchoperations is additionally expensive, requiring the purchase of twomachines, and the additional floor space required by both machines.

[0012] Thus, there is a need for an in-line wire drawing machine that iscapable of both operating as a single-draw machine and a multi-drawmachine.

[0013] In addition, there is an ever present need to simplify theconstruction and operation of multi-draw wire drawing machines in orderto achieve reduced expense and increased reliability, and to providesuch machines adapted for safe operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The general aim of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved wire draw machine adapted for multiple draws of wire.

[0015] An objective of the invention is to achieve the foregoing byproviding a multi-draw wire draw machine that uses substantially lessfloor space than prior multi-draw wire draw machines of the same generaltype.

[0016] Another objective of the invention is to provide a wire machinehaving multiple drawing stations that may operate either together in amulti-drawing operation, or independently of one another in single-drawoperations.

[0017] A more detailed objective is to provide such independentlyoperable wire drawing stations being independently controllable.

[0018] Another more detailed objective is to provide such independentlyoperable stations which are mirrored or flipped and offset with respectto one another for reduction of costs, and for simplification ofconstruction and operation in either operating mode.

[0019] These and other objectives and advantages of the invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0020] Briefly, a wire drawing machine in accordance with the presentinvention comprises vertically stacked wire-drawing stations adapted forsimultaneous operation—to provide multi-draw capability, and eachprovided with independently operable controls and associated hardwaresuch that each station is adapted for independent operation—to providesingle-draw capability—from either and both stations simultaneously.

[0021] In carrying out preferred embodiments of the invention, the drawdies, capstans and certain associated wire flow-control hardware of theupper and lower wire drawing stations are arranged to substantiallymirror each other along a horizontally extending plane. As a result,both the upper and lower stations are adapted to receive unfinished wirefrom the same side, and to provided drawn wire flowing in the samedirection toward the opposite side in a conventional in-line manner,with the upper station thus being capable or alternately providing drawnwire to the lower station or to a using station downstream of themachine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a front view of a new and improved multi-draw wire drawmachine in accordance with the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a right side view of the machine, the left side beingclosed by removable housing access panels.

[0024]FIG. 3 is a back view of portions of the machine shown withportions of the housing removed.

[0025]FIG. 4 is a top view of portions of the machine shown with theupper sheet metal housing panel removed.

[0026]FIG. 5 is a back view of portions of the machine.

[0027]FIG. 6 is right side view of portions of the machine shown withoutthe housing.

[0028]FIG. 7 is a top view of portions of the machine.

[0029]FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of certain components of FIG. 5.

[0030]FIG. 9 is right side view of portions of the machine.

[0031]FIG. 10 is a back view of portions of the machine.

[0032]FIG. 11 is a top view of portions of the machine.

[0033]FIG. 12 is right side view of portions of the machine, and showingan electrical control box on the forward side thereof and a manualcontrol button-box connected thereto by a flexible electrical bundledwire connection.

[0034]FIG. 13 is a back view of portions of the machine.

[0035]FIGS. 14 and 15 are enlarged views of certain components of FIG.12.

[0036] While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, a certain illustrated embodiment has beenshown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It shouldbe understood, however, that there is no intention to limit theinvention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, andequivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] For purposes of illustration, the present invention is shown inthe drawings as multi-draw wire draw machine 10 adapted for use inin-line wire drawing operations.

[0038] Attached hereto, and made a part hereof by reference is a copy ofU.S. Pat. No. 6,125,675 which describes a wire drawing machine equippedwith an integral turntable. The basic structure, function and operationof the wire draw stations of machine 10 is similar to the machine ofsaid patent, except for provision of integral turntable and associatedcomponents, and except as described herein in connection with thepresent invention; said patent being included for identification andexplanation of such associated components and operations thereof of thewire drawing stations of machine 10 herein.

[0039] In accordance with the present invention, the wire draw machine10 is uniquely adapted for both single and multiple drawing of wirewithin a relatively small floor space as compared with prior multi-drawmachines.

[0040] Briefly, the wire draw machine 10 comprises upper and lower wiredraw stations, 20 and 30, respectively. As will become apparent, the twostations are adapted for operating either independently of one another,or together for multiple wire drawing operations. Accordingly, the upperand lower capstans 40 and 42, respectively, are provided withindependently operable drive motors 32 and 34, respectively, andassociated speed controls.

[0041] During multi-draw operations, the wire enters and is drawnthrough the upper station, whereupon the wire is then drawn through thelower station. The finished wire is feed to a wire using machine orstation (not shown) forwardly of the machine 10. The general path 8 ofthe wire during multi-draw operations is shown in FIG. 6. It is notedthat the capstans are not shown in this figure, as well as some of theother figures, the capstan mountings 14 instead being shown, but thegeneral wire path being shown at approximately the capstan outerdiameter. It is further noted that the compensating arms 46 shown in thedrawings are generally shown at one or both of the two extremes of theiroperating strokes, with their normal operating positions beingtherebetween such as indicated by the wire path lines shown.

[0042] In this instance, the upper electric motor 32 power rotates theupper capstan 40 with wire wrapped therearound to draw the wire from acoil of wire (not shown), located behind the machine, through the upperdraw die 44. Upon exiting the upper capstan, the wire travels around theupper speed compensating roller/arm assembly 46. At the lower station, asecond electric motor 34 power rotates the lower capstan 42 with thewire wrapped therearound to draw the wire from the upper station throughthe lower draw die 48. From the lower capstan, the wire is pulled aroundlower speed compensating roller/arm assembly 50, and is drawn into awire using machine or station (not shown) located forwardly of themachine. The wire is held to the capstan by manually operated wirecontainment rolls 66 or other suitable arrangements.

[0043] It will be understood that the upper and lower draw dies areoriented for convenience of desired wire paths. In the embodiment shown,the upper draw die is positioned for entrance from a substantiallyhorizontal wire path for relatively low wire entry path. The axis of thelower draw die is slightly rotated from horizontal for convenientalignment with and smooth flow of wire from the upper station.

[0044] The controls for the upper and lower stations are adapted tooperate either together, for multi-draw operations, or independently ofone another for operation of either station independently. The capstansare controlled by AC drive motors for independent operation. The speedcompensating arms shown utilize non-contact cam and proximity sensorssuch that as the distance increases between the cam and the sensor, thespeed of the capstan increases. Other capstan speed control mechanismsare known and may be adapted for use herewith.

[0045] As shown with upper and lower wire path lines 4 and 6respectively, in FIG. 12, both the upper and lower wire draw stationsare adapted to draw wire from a coil of wire located behind the machine,and to supply finish drawn wire to a using station located forwardly ofthe machine for optional independent operations. To this end, themachine is optionally fitted with guide rollers 18 for guiding the wireinto the angularly oriented lower die box, and other guide rollers andsupports as desired for guiding the wire into and out of the machine.

[0046] In carrying out the invention, the combined operations andorientations of the draw die and capstan, and in the embodiment shownthe speed compensating arm and associated control components of thegenerally convention arrangement of the lower station are substantiallymirrored or flipped about a substantially horizontally extending axisfor positioning and operations at the upper station. This arrangementpermits both stations to receive wire from a coil of wire located behindthe machine, and to supply finish drawn wire to a using station locatedforwardly of the machine. Moreover, maintaining essentially the sameoperational relationships between the components of the upper and lowerstations permits the use of many of the same or substantially similarcomponent parts to assist in achieving a lower cost multi-draw machine.

[0047] In preferred embodiments, the upper station, including thecapstan and draw die, and in particular the speed compensating arm andassociated control components, are laterally offset from the lowerstation, and are positioned such that the upper speed compensating armis aligned with the lower draw die such that wire exiting therefrom isaligned for entrance into the lower station. In this instance, theupper-capstan speed controls are responsive to use of wire by the lowerdrawing station.

[0048] With this arrangement, the capstans rotate in oppositedirections. Advantageously, during multi-draw operations, thecounter-rotating capstans assist in removing the precast in the wire,resulting in wire with improved tensile strength and elasticity.

[0049] In further keeping with the invention, the machine 10 is equippedwith a unique housing arrangement that is adapted for operator safetyconsiderations while enabling convenient startup and operation of themachine. In carrying out this aspect of the invention, the housingcomprises removable panels generally designated as item 60 that aresecured in place with threaded fasteners 62 or other removablefasteners, to cover the entire side of the machine opposite the capstan,and to substantially cover the front and rear sides of the machine.Windows 64 are provided in the housing at the front and back of themachine at the wire entry and exit locations. In the embodiment shown,the back windows are also sized to permit the speed compensating arm toextend outwardly therefrom when in its outer-most position, and thefront windows are sized for access to a manually actuated wirecontainment clamps 66 for clamping the last wrap of wire onto thecapstan after the side door is closed and prior to starting the machine.

[0050] The side of the machine adjacent the capstan is provided with adoor 68 mounted to the frame with hinges 70 to provide operator accessfor initial wire rigging prior to starting the machine. The door isprovided with windows 72 for viewing the wire generally between the drawdie and the capstan to enable monitoring thereof; these windows arepreferably covered with a mesh screen or like material for operatorsafety purposes. An electrical interlock operatively connected betweenthe door and the machine controls prevents the machine to be turned onfor operations while the door is open, and automatically shuts themachine down if the door is opened during wire drawing operations.

[0051] Those skilled in the art will appreciate alternate embodimentsthat fall within multi-draw machine of the present invention. Withoutlimitations, such embodiments include arranging the lower drawingstation to optionally feed the upper station during multi-drawoperations, and the use of alternate speed control arrangements suitablefor use with such wire drawing stations and machines.

I claim:
 1. A multi-draw wire drawing machine adapted to receive wirefrom an upstream location and to supply drawn wire to a downstreamlocation, the wire drawing machine comprising: an upper wire drawingstation including an upper draw die and an upper capstan positioned todraw wire therethrough; a lower wire drawing station including a lowerdraw die and a lower capstan positioned to draw wire therethrough; saidstations both having inlets positioned to receive wire from saidupstream location and having exits positioned to supply wire to saiddownstream location; and a wire guide positioned to selectively guidewire exiting from one of said stations to the other of said stations andsaid downstream location.
 2. A multi-draw wire drawing machine adaptedto receive wire from an upstream location and to supply drawn wire to adownstream location, the wire drawing machine comprising: an upper wiredrawing station including an upper draw die, an upper capstan adapted todraw wire therethrough, and an upper-capstan speed control responsive touse of wire downstream thereof; and a lower wire drawing stationincluding a lower draw die, a lower capstan adapted to draw wiretherethrough, and a lower-capstan speed control responsive to use ofwire downstream thereof; the draw dies, capstans, and capstan speedcontrols of said upper and lower wire drawing stations substantiallymirroring each other about a first horizontal axis extendingtherebetween such that wire flows into and out of said stations insubstantially the same directions; at least one of said wire drawingstation being adapted to receive wire from said upstream location, andat least one of said wire drawing stations being adapted to supply drawnwire to said downstream location.
 3. A multi-draw wire drawing machineadapted to receive wire from an upstream location and to supply drawnwire to a downstream location, the wire drawing machine comprising: anupper wire drawing station including an upper draw die, an upper capstanadapted to draw wire therethrough, and upper-capstan operating controls;a lower wire drawing station including a lower draw die, a lower capstanadapted to draw wire therethrough, and lower-capstan operating controls;and said stations both having inlets positioned to receive wire fromsaid upstream location and having exits positioned to supply wire tosaid downstream location; and said upper-capstan operating controls andsaid lower-capstan operating controls being independently operable ofone another.